What do you think of Agnes's story, Mr Earnest?" I asked.
"It is difficult to say," he replied." We assume that the moment of creation for a character in a novel is when the author first picks up a pen to write. But Agnes says she existed before that, in a world remarkably similar, though not identical to the one depicted in the novel. An alternative reality where she was a young woman named Agnes Fleming, who was about to give birth to an illegitimate child. It was common at that time for unforgiving parents to disown a pregnant and unmarried daughter and cast her out of her own home.
"How cruel they were!" I said.
"More than that, Peregrine. It was an injustice that commonly led to a life of misery for young women, but do you have any more objective observations?"
"Only this. When the author creates a notably vivid character in his imagination, it is not unusual for him to claim that the character appeared fully formed in his mind and took on a life of its own. You might see this as fanciful, but could it be possible that the author is tuning into another dimension or something similar, and is describing a character that already existed independently?
Are you suggesting that another young woman, an alternative Agnes Fleming, existed alongside or even before Dickens created her character in a novel?
"Well, Agnes does, and I think she is sincere."
"I agree," said Mr Ernest. "The woman we know now is not the Agnes Fleming of Dickens's creation, but somebody similar. The important thing to remember is that this present incarnation is probably part of a long regression back to a common ancestor.
"Agnes, in the novel, was an imperfect replication of her predecessor and lived a slightly different life."
I found it gratifying that Earnest now seemed to be treating me as more of an equal than a subordinate, but I was aware that I had changed a great deal from the boy who had walked into the emporium trying to get a portal deal.
I certainly felt more confident in myself, and meeting Montana had been life-changing in every sense of the word. On Earth, Major, most people tended to think that seventeen was too young to pick your life partner, but here we make our choice early, and I had no doubt Montana returned my love. It was the stress of seeing me return from the dead that had led to the ridiculous misunderstanding about my relationship with David's Agnes, but I had apologised profusely, and she forgave me.
This revelation by Agnes Fleming about her past life was intriguing; my ideas concerning the nature of reality were now a work in progress, and I was grateful to have somebody as wise as Earnest as my mentor.
"Do you think the transformation of Agnes is an example of a type of evolution at work?"
"In a way, but an alternative process that differs from our understanding of biological evolution. In the 'Agnes Way,' there is no selection, and every variation survives as a slightly different version of her predecessor.
I was not too far out then, and I was interested in learning more.
"Is each succeeding copy of Agnes an improvement on the previous one, and is she evolving towards a perfected version of herself?"
"No, Peregrine. That is not the case. In Darwinian evolution, mutation, which produces genetic variation, is random, but the selection of a variation that gives an advantage is non-random. Critics of evolutionary theory often try to argue that it is entirely dependent on chance, but they misunderstand the process. It is the mutation better adapted to the environment that self-selects to survive and reproduce to create the next generation. However, these small, incremental improvements are not part of a long-term plan to perfect the organism. There is no plan, no guiding hand, and no purpose other than survival. I believe that what we might call 'The Agnes Way' is similarly not a goal-driven progression. In her system, the adaptations do not necessarily provide an advantage, although they may do so by chance. The complete process is random, and there is no element of selection. Agnes and all her cousins may differ, but none is superior by design, although, once again, one Agnes might be better than another by chance. If you would allow me to digress for a moment, Peregrine
"Darwin's solution to the problem of accounting for the vast diversity of life on Earth was a triumph, both in simplicity and elegance, and the principle is universal in that it can explain how other systems evolve. I was there at the 'Great Debate,' you know," he said proudly, "as an observer only, but I was there."
"The Great Debate," I echoed back at him, "what was that?"
"Held at the University Museum by the British Association for the Advancement of Science in 1860 in Oxford on Earth Major. The Bishop of Oxford opposed Darwin's Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection. Thomas Huxley, a biologist, defended it. It was a lively debate, I can tell you, and I reckon our man won, but the theologians also claimed victory. It was the number one public issue at the time—Darwin's book. On the Origin of Species, caused a sensation."
Ernest had said his piece and leaned back slightly in his chair as an indication that it was my turn to speak.
"Thank you for those valuable insights, Ernest. "I cannot tell you how grateful I am to you and Albert for revealing to me some of the complexities of living in the multi-reality universe, but am I correct in saying that I have a great deal more to learn?"
Ernest bowed his head.
"Time and time again, Peregrine, you reassure me that our decision to invest our hope in you proved to be correct. Yes, you have a lot yet to learn, but in time, your understanding will surpass anything that Albert and I possess. However, that is not for discussion now; we must confine ourselves to the matter at hand. Do you have any further observations?"
"Just to mention that this issue with Cheap and his attempt to fraudulently secure Montana's hand in marriage has led to some quite remarkable coincidences. Take you and Mr Wickfield, for example. Both of you are men of similar age who employed an dishonest clerk. Mr Wickfield has a young daughter, Agnes, and you are a young ward in Montana. In the novel, Heep tries to marry Agnes by deceiving Mr Wickfield, and it seems certain that, in due course, Cheap would have tried to get into the firm by marrying Montana.
"Assuredly," said Earnest, "but you modestly fail to mention that it was two good men, yourself and David Copperfield, who eventually won the love of these two young women."
"Thank you, but I cannot avoid feeling that there was much more to it than that. It seems almost planned, like the plot of a novel—a synchronisation that did not happen by chance."
Ernest smiled.
Are you implying that you were predestined to enter a version of London where fictional characters live independently, to meet Agnes Wickfield, her father, and his dishonest clerk, and then bring them back to Earth Minor, where they would play a key role in rescuing Montana from a forced marriage?"
My face reddened.
"I admit that it does sound fantastic and completely improbable when you put it like that."
"Fantastic, yes, but improbable, no," said Ernest. It seems likely there were other forces at work. But don't think your life away, Peregrine. Embrace the moment; it's all any of us have."